New Book Examines Growing Demand for Specialists in Mission-Critical Operations

The International Society of Automation (ISA) announced it has published a new book that highlights the increasing industry importance of and growing career opportunities in mission-critical operations fields.

The term “mission critical” applies to any activity, system or equipment—generally within the 16 critical infrastructure sectors—whose failure could result in serious consequences, such as loss of life, harm to the environment or significant financial loss through production impact or plant damage.

Mission-Critical Operations Primer by Steve Mustard, an independent automation consultant and a globally recognized expert in critical infrastructure operations, defines the essential components and concepts of mission-critical operations, and explores the influence and role of:

Standards and regulations

System and network technologies

Operational activities and processes

Safety and physical security considerations

Risk management methodologies

Emergency response preparation and execution

“In writing this book, I wanted to provide a comprehensive overview of all key aspects of mission-critical operations and provide some guidance for those looking to start a career in mission-critical organizations as an operator or technician,” says Mustard, who serves as a subject-matter expert of ISA and its affiliate association, the Automation Federation. “Mission-critical specialists are needed to address the many risks and challenges in such areas as network design, control system security, control room operations and alarm management.”

Mustard points to the 2015 cyberattack on Ukraine's power grid, which left 225,000 people without electricity for up to six hours, in the depth of winter. Because of failures in network design, security monitoring and incident response, the grid operator was forced to resort to manual operations for months after the event, incurring significant additional costs. More recently, in November 2017, a cyberattack targeted a critical infrastructure organization in the Middle East, resulting in a plant shutdown.

“There’s an acute shortage of suitably qualified and experienced individuals to work in mission-critical systems design and operation,” he reports. “If we are to keep our businesses and our critical infrastructure safe, we will need a new generation of specialists who understand the importance of the phrase ‘failure is not an option.’”